Stereopticon advertising-clock.



G. WILLENS.

STEREOPTICON ADVERTISING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.I5.19H.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

w 4 SHEETSSHEET I.

G. WILLENS.

STEREOPTICON ADVERTISING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. I917. 1,292,196. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

G. WILLENS.

STEREOPTICON ADVERTISING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1917.

Patented Jan. 21 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

hf/fnessas HA0 G. WILLENS.

STEREOPTICON ADVERTISING CLOCK.

APPUCATION FILED OCT. 15. 1917.

Patented Jan. 21,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4 [27 Men f0/.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WELENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KINETO MACHINE 00., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

S'IEREOIETICON ADVERTISING-CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLENS, a

.citizen of the United States, residing at 1811 So. Troy street, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereopticon Advertising-Clocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw; ings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in advertising devices such as are desired to project the image of a clock dial and clock hands eorrelatively with one or more advertisements changing automatically, on a translucent screen or screens forming a portion of aside or sides of-the,mechanisms housing, the space inside the dial being utilized for the advertisement. With this con struotion the machine may be moved wherever convenient and avoids the necessity of a projecting machine distinct from the screen. Special attention is called to the means by which the accuracy of the clock is secured.

My invention is primarily intended to be exhibited in prominent positions or locations, such as in theaters, store'windows, bill posting signs, etc.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of another form of the machine. F ig.'3 is a. front elevation showing the motive mechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through part of the mechanism with the gear mountings shown extended along a straight center. line for better legibility. Fig. 5 is the same vertical section through the remainder of the -mecha nism, including Fig. 3 in vertical section along the lines A-A. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the mechanism showing the relation of the principal parts. F ig. 7 is a side view of the escapement mechanism. Fig. 8 is a front view of still another style of machine using no mirror in its construction. Fig. 9 is a longitudinalsection of Fig. 1

along the lines B-B, showing only the relative position of the principal parts. Fig. 10 is a lon 'tudinal section of Fig. 8 along the line 5 C showing only the relative position of the principal parts. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 2 along the'line DD showing only the relative position of the principal parts. Fig. 12 shows a view of the clip which secures the slide Wheel.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. On plate 1 is mounted the motive mechanism 2, consisting of one or more coil springs 3, fastened on the inner end to pin 4, protruding from a section of shaft '5, and on the outer end to stud 6, mounted on winding arm 7 which is rigidly'mounted on an adjacent shaft section 5. Dividing bars 8 act both as a guide to the spring 3 and to support one end of a section of shaft5. The supported ends of each section of shaft 5 fit loosely into the openings 9 of the adjacent shaft section 5 and support it. On the outer shaft section 5 is rigidly mounted a ratchet wheel 10 which engages with pawl 11 loosely'mounted on stud 12. To the end of the outer section 5, is rigidly secured a handle or winding lever 13. Dividing plates 8 are rigidly supported and secured to plate 1 by means of studs 14 screwed into or otherwise fastened to plate 1, and spacers 15. The bracket 16 rigidly fastened to plate 1, supports the condensing'mcmbers 17 and the lighting members 18. To the inner end section of shaft 5 is rigidly secured the transmission gear 19 driving pinion 2O rigidly and concentrically secured to the transmission gear 21, driving slide wheel 22 which is rigidly and concentrically secured to the pinion 23 which drives the motive train of clock gears consisting of transmission gear 24 mounted on the same shaft as pinion 25, integral and concentric with the ratchet gear 26 (whose teeth are cut away uniformly either more or less than half the distance between the teeth, but never one-half the distance), gear 27 (driven by pinion gear 25) which is securelymounted on the minute shaft 28 of an ordinary clock movement 29, from which the entire train of gears leading from the minute hand shaft to and including the power spring gear and power spring has been removed. The mechanism of a standard clock movement is so well known as to require no further description. Gear 27 110 l drives gear rotatably mounted on shaft 31 which is rotatable in bearing 32 and fitted at one end with thumb nut 33. Between gear 30 and plate 1, a spacer 34 is rigidly mounted on shaft 31. Gear 30 is the same size as gear 35 rigidly mounted on shaft 31, and drives it by means of friction washer 36. To gear 35 is concentrically secured pinion 37 which drives gear 38 and pinion 39 integral with it. Pinion 39 drives gear 40 at one-twelfth the rotative speed of gear 35. Gear 40 is concentrically integral with gear 41 which is the same size as gears 35 and 30 rotatably mounted on shaft 31, and drives toothed ring 42 which is the same size as gear 27. Gear 35 also drives toothed ring 43 which is also the same size as gear 27 and therefore rotates at the same speed and twelve times as fast as toothed ring 42. Toothed rings 42 and 43 are rotatably mounted on their inner peripheries on rotatable grooved rollers 44 mounted on the studs 45 which are secured to light guard 46 which in turn is rigidly supported by plate 1 by means of studs 47. T oothed ring 43 is mounted similar to toothed ring 42 on rotatable grooved rollers 44 mounted on the studs 45 which are secured to the plate 1. To gears 43 and 42 are respectively secured the minute and hour hands 48 and 49. In light guard 46 and plate 1 are circular openings 5O concentric with the concentric toothed rings 42 and 43.

Gear which is rotatably mounted on shaft 51 and centered with long hub 52 near the outer edge of which is a circular groove 53 into which fits the clip 54. From the hub extends the projection 55. The hub 56 of slidewheel 57 is mounted on hub and by means of slot 58 in hub 56 engages a projection locking slide wheel 57 to gear Transparencies 59 imprinted with clock dials and advertising matter, fit into recessed openings 60 and are retained by means of bifurcated spring clips 61 secured to slide wheel 57 by means of rivets 62. The clip 54 prevents the slide wheel hub 56 from slipping oif. On the outer edge of slide wheel 57are dogs63, one-half in number of the transparencies and equally spaced. The transparencies are equi-distant from the center of the slide wheel 57 and equally spaced. The dogs 63 are alternately intercepted by pins 64 of escapement lever 65 pivotally mounted on shaft 66 supported by frame 1 and are exactly twice as far apart as the pins 64. Arm 67 secured to and extending from lever 65, is kept in continual contact with ratchet wheel 26. by means of spring 68 supported by stud 69 secured to frame 1. The dogs 63 are in such relation to the trans parencies that when in contact with either pin 64 one transparency is always concentric with toothed rings 42 and 43.

Through the opening 70 in gear 24, projects the pin 71 from ratchet wheel 26. A hairpin spring or other suitable spring 72 is secured at one end to gear 24 and at the other to ratchet wheel 26. Lamp filament 73, condenser lenses 74, openings 50, toothed rings 42 and 43, one transparency 59, projecting lens 75 and center of mirror 76 are all concentrically mounted and the mirror 76 is tilted so as to reflect a circular projection concentric with the center of the screen 77. The course of the said projection is indicated by rays of light 78. Translucent sign 84, mirror 76, heat ventilator 79 and light protector 81, and the entire mechanism are supported in a suitable case 80. The form of advertising clock shown in Figs. 8 and 10, require no mirrors or light shields.

The operation of my improved stereoptieon advertising clock is as follows :To start the machine, remove the slide wheel 57 by slipping off the clip 64, and slipping the slide wheel 57 ofi the hub 52. Then wind the handle 13 of the motive mechanism 2. The ratchet wheel 10 engaging the pawl 11, prevents the spring 3 from unwinding. As the first shaft section 5 to which the handle 13 is secured, revolves, it winds up the first spring 3, the'outer end of which is secured by means of the stud 6 to the winding arm 7 which in turn is rigidly mounted on a middle shaft section 5, and is forced to revolve by the tensioning of the first spring 3, thus winding the second spring 3 which in turn is secured by means of another stud 6 to the second arm 7 which in turn also tends to revolve because of the tensioning of the second spring 3 which communicates a rotary force through the transmission gear 19 to the train of gears 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24, thence through ratchet gear 26 to gears 25 and 27 which latter gear is mounted on the minute shaft 28 of the clock movement 29 and drives the said movement. As this shaft. revolves but once per hour and the power being transmitted through pinion gears 30 and 35 both of the same size, to toothed ring 43 which is the same size as gear 27, toothed ring 43 also revolves once per hour and the clock hand 48 secured thereto represents the minute hand of the clock. As the gears 35 and 41 are of the same size and by means of the train of gears 37, 38, 39 and 40 driven by gear gear 41 is caused to rotate onetwelfth as fast as gear 35, the clock hand 49 secured to the toothed ring 42, represents the hour hand of the clock. The hairpin spring 72 being much weaker than the main springs 3. is at this time doing nothing and the pin 71 of ratchet gear 26 isforced against the side of the opening 70, in this manner directly transmitting power to the ratchet gear 26 through the pinion 25 and gear 27. When the n'iovement 29 is running this way, it is running by excessive power. Now replace the slide wheel 57 so that the slot. 58 in hub meanee 56 engages pin 55 on gear hub 52. Then snap the clip 54 in the groove 53 to prevent the slide wheel 57 from slipping off. As the spring 68 keeps the arm 67 in constant contact'with the ratchet wheel 26, a rocking motion is imparted to the pin 65 by the rota tion of the ratchet wheel 26. As the gear 22 slowly rotates, the slide wheel 57 rotates with it and the position of the pins 64 is so timed as to intercept the dog 63 and halt the slide wheel 57. The stored up tension in the hairpin spring 72 continues to drive the clock movement 29, and the rocking motion of the pins 64 alternately release and intercept the dogs 63 of the slide wheel 57 at regular intervals. Each time the dogs 63 are released, the resultant rotation of the slide wheel 57 permits the gear 22 to rotate and drive the gears 23 and 24 permitting new tension to be forced into the hairpin spring 72 until the rotation of the slide wheel 57 is again halted. The gearing is such that the slide wheel 57 intermittently rotates at a frequency which leaves the hairpin spring 72 at exactly the same tension at each release of the said slide wheel, so that the clock 29 is practically self-winding at frequent intervals and the power driving the clock remains almost constant, insuringunusual accuracy in time. Because of the uneven. proportion between the high and low portions of the ratchet teeth on ratchet wheel 26, one of the rocking motions of the escapement lever 65 is slower than the other so that the dog 63 on the slide wheel 57 (when first placed on the machine) may pass one pin 6-1 before it has had the opportunity to intercept the dog 63 but will then be intercepted by the other pin 64 of the slower releasing action. After the first interception a somewhat longer time will be required for a release than those thereafter permitting the hairpin spring 72 to drive the pin 71 ahead far enough so as never again to strike the sides of the opening and gear 24 while the machine is in operation. To adjust the clock hands, rotate the thumb nut 33 which rotates the shaft 31 and the gear 35 rigidly secured thereto. Gear 30 which is in mesh with the clock gear 27, slips against the friction washer 36 and does not prevent the said shaft rotation. Gear 35 rotates gears 43, and the train of gears 37. 38, 39 and 40 which in turn drive gear 41 which rotates gear 42 enabling the clock hands 48 and 49 to be set at the desired time.

In the type of machine shown in F igs. 1 and 9, the. light from filament '73 is projected through condenser 74 and concentrated on transparency 59 on which a clock dial and advertisement is imprinted, and clock hands 48 and 49 which are then correlatively projected through openings 50 into lens 75 through. opening 83 to the mlrror 76 and thence reflected to translucent screen 77 as shown by dotted lines 78. The image of a clock dial with an advertisement on its face, together with the shadows of the clock hands will be seen on the front end of the screen. The light in the lower compartment of the case 80 is further-utilized to illuminate the sign card 84 in the front end of the housing. In the type of machine shown in Figs. 2 and 11 the projection is exactly the same except that as it leaves the lens 75, it strikes the screen 77 first and the mirror 76 reflects the image from the screen to the eye. In the type of machine shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the image after it leaves the lens 75 is projected directly on the translucent screen 77 and the eye sees the image on the front of the screen 7 It will be seen from the foregoing description that on my machine the time may be adjusted without disturbing the clock movement or affecting any of the working parts preceding theclock movement; that because of the uniform tension of the hairpin'spring, from the moment the machine is wound up to the moment it has run out, great accuracy of time may be expected; and that the bifurcated spring clips for retaining the transparencies make an extremely simple method; and that the interlocking train of gearing from the source of power to the clock movement prevents the spring from unwinding when the slide wheel is removed. The housing being light proof, no light reachesthe back of the translucent screen except that which is projected from the lens, preventing the fading of the image. It will also be seen that the length of time that a machine can be operated with one wiIiding may be easily increased by the addition of sections to the motive mechanism, consisting of springs, shaft sections, dividing plates, spacers, winding arms, and the lengthening of the long studs.

I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a multiplicity of transparencies each with a clock dial imprinted thereon, clock hands mounted to rotate concentrically with one of the said clock dials. means for successively placing each clock dial concentric with the said clock hand, an externally driven clock movement to revolve said clock hands at clock speed, means for utilizing part of the motive power re quired to revolve the transparencies into position. for driving the clock movement correlatively, and a single source of power for correlatively actuating both the clock movement and the slide wheel, for the purpose and in the manner hereinbefore specified.

2. In an apparatus of the class described. a housing containing a rotatable slide wheel supporting a multiplicity of transparencies each with a clock dial and advertisement imprinted thereon, means for retaining said transparencies, means for intermittently rotating said slide wheel so as to successively place for a short period, the said clock 'dials on the transparencies concentric with the concentrated ray of light, a pair of clock controlled rotatable toothed rings each supporting an hour and a minute clock hand respectively, concentric with the clock dial, a skeleton clock movement consisting of the train of gears from the minute shaft up to and including the balance wheel and escapement lever, means for constantly driving the said clock movement from the intermittent motive power of the slide wheel, means for projecting each transparency together and correlative with the clock hands on to a translucent screen, and hot and cold air vents, all correlated, for the purpose and in the manner hereinbefore specified.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a single motive source, an intermittently retarded slide wheel driven by said motive source, a skeleton clock movement con: .tinuously driven by the intermittently driven slide wheel, means for maintaining the motive force almost constant on the clock movement from the said intermittent source of power, said means consisting of an intermittently driven wheel rotatably mounted, a spring, supported at one end and tensioned by the said Wheel and supported at the other end by a gear which its tensioning propels, said spring transmitting a nearly constant motive power to the said clock movement, said wheel revolving at exactly the same number of times as the said ear. g 4. In an apparatus of the class described, a single motive mechanism, a slide wheel actuated by the said mechanism and intermittently retarded, and a skeleton clock movement continuously actuated by the intermittent propulsive energy of the said slide wheel, for the purpose and in the manner hereinbefore specified. i

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a single motive mechanism, a slide Wheel actuated by the said mechanism through a continuous train of ears, a skeleton clock movement continuous y actuated by the intermittent propulsive energy of the said slide wheel through a broken train of gears,

means for bridging the said break so as to uninterruptedly transmit power, said means also permitting the removal of the slide wheel without releasing the motive mechanism and consisting of a disk or one of a train of gears leading to and controlled by the skeleton clock movement and having a laterally extending pin on one side, said gear or disk mounted on the same shaft as one of another train of gears leading from the said motive mechanism and which train is r intermittently in errupted by the said slide ,wheel which it a *tuates, said gear designed to rotate exactly as often as the first mentioned gear or disk, and having a hole through its side adapted to receive said pin, said hole being large enoughto permit the traversing of the said pin, unhindered, across it during its stationary period, a tensioned coil spring or hairpin spring joining the two said gears to continuously and constantly actuate the said clock controlled gear, said motor driven gear when released of its retarding control by the said slide wheel, arrested, by the side of the hole on the said gear striking against the pin for the purpose hereinbefore specified.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a housing containing/a motive mechanism which correlatively drives both a slide wheel intermittently and a clock movement constantly, a slide wheel carrying a multiplicity of transparencies upon each of which is imprinted a clock dial, means for retaining said transparencies, means for intermittently releasing and halting said slide wheel so as to successively place for a short period the said clock dials on the transparencies concentric to the concentrated ray of light, a clock controlled pair of rotatable toothed rings each supporting a minute and an hour hand respectively concentric to one of the said clock dials, a clock movement for controlling the rotation of the said clock hands,

means for adjusting the said clock hands, means for converting the intermittent power from the motive mechanism to an almost constant motive power for'the clock movement, a source of light, condensing lens, and a projecting'lens correlatively concentric to the concentrated ray of light, a translucent screen to receive the projected image and hot and cold vents, for the purpose and in the manner hereinbefore specified.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a housing containing a series-connected spring motive mechanism which correlatively drives both a slide wheel intermittently and a clock movement constantly, a motor driven slide wheel carrying a multiplicity of transparencies on each of which is imprinted a clock dial, means for retaining said transparencies, means for releasing and haltin said slide wheel'for the purpose descri ed, a clock controlled pair of toothed rings supporting respectively an hour and a'minute hand as described, a clock movement for controlling the rotation of the said clock hands, means for adjusting the said clock hands, means for converting the intermittent motive power driving the slide wheel to a practically. constant motive power for the clock movement, a source of light, condensing lens, projecting lens, and a mirror, all correlatively concentrioto the concentrated ray of light, atranslucent screen to receive the reflected image from the mirror and hot and cold air vents for the purpose and in the manner hereinbefore specified.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a. housing containing a series-connected spring motive mechanism which correlatively drives both a slide Wheel intermittently and a clock movement constantly, a motor driven slide Wheel carrying a multi plicity of transparencies on each of which is imprinted a clock dial, means for retaining said transparencies, means for releasing and halting said slide Wheel for the purpose described, a clock controlled pair of toothed rings supporting respectively an hour and a minute hand as described, a clock movement for controlling the rotation 01 the said all clock hands, means for adjusting the said clock hands, means for converting the intermittentmotive power driving the slide wheel to a practically constant motive power for the clock movement, a source of light, condensing lens, projecting lens, and a translir cent screen all correlatively concentric to the concentrated ray of light, a mirror for reflecting the image or the projection on the said translucent screen to the eye, and hot and cold air vents for the purpose and in the manner hereinbefore specified.

In testimony whereof I afiii: my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE WILLENS. lVitnesses SAMUEL WILLENs, BEATRICE DEER. 

